Chapter 56
56. Romeo and Juliet 2021.11.10.
Cough, cough...
“Eek!”
Eun-bi, whose throat was parched and was dry-coughing in her sleep, opened her eyes in fright. An unfamiliar space. A naked, unfamiliar man next to her. The man, awakened by Eun-bi’s fuss, sat up, blinked, and asked in a languid voice.
“Are you awake?”
“What is this? Wh-what, what is this?”
“What do you mean, ‘what is this?’”
“……”
“You were the one who asked me to hold you.”
The man sighed in disbelief and went into the bathroom. Eun-bi, startled once again by his slender yet muscular back, covered her face with the blanket. She checked her own state under the blanket. She was no different from him.
‘I asked him to hold me? Me?’
She couldn’t believe it. The memories she thought had vanished quickly returned. Despairing over Jeong Ji-heon leaving for an overseas business trip with Lee Jung-oh, she had gone to a bar alone. And she had met the man there. Good heavens. She remembered everything from last night, clinging to the man who said he was going home, crying and begging him to listen to her. And even the memory of clinging to him, saying she was lonely... Judging by his decent looks alone, she had dragged some unknown guy to a hotel.
‘What if that guy is a gold digger?’
A family of legal professionals. Moreover, her father would soon be entering politics, so she couldn't afford to create such a scandal. Eun-bi hurriedly gathered her clothes and put them on. She wanted to run away quickly. But as she was searching for her bag after getting dressed, the man came out of the bathroom.
“Aren’t you going to wash up?”
“……”
“Then let’s go out and get some hangover soup.”
Eun-bi lost her chance to escape.
\ Seung-gyu, who couldn't shake his heavy expression throughout breakfast, spoke to his wife, Jin-seo, after finishing his preparations for work.
“Honey, let’s stop sending Do-bin to the Go academy now.”
“Huh? Why?”
“He doesn’t even learn Go anyway.”
“What can a seven-year-old learn so seriously? We’re just letting him go because he likes it. It’d be nice if he picked up a little something from Yena.”
“He should do what he likes, why follow what Yena likes?”
“Kids are all like that.”
Jin-seo chuckled as she fed Do-yoon. Do-bin, unaware of what his mom and dad were talking about, was sitting on the toilet, straining with the bathroom door wide open. Seung-gyu frowned even more and said.
“It’s hard enough on you already, and you’re making it even harder by worrying about Yena.”
“Yena’s not having a hard time. Let’s just watch until the end of this month. We’ve already paid the tuition. Do-bin can’t be separated from Yena.”
Jin-seo replied as if it were nothing. At that moment, Do-bin came running over.
“Mom, I wiped well and washed my hands! Okay? Did I do well?”
Do-bin, having finished his business, showed Jin-seo his cleanly washed hands and acted flippantly.
“Park Do-bin.”
Seung-gyu called Do-bin in an authoritative voice.
“You’re not going to the Go academy anymore. Instead, Dad will send you to the soccer class you like.”
“I like the Go academy more than soccer class?”
“Then tell me what you’ve learned at the Go academy.”
“Black stones and white stones fight!”
“Anything else.”
“The person who builds more houses wins!”
“Do you know how to build houses?”
“Yeah. Like this.”
Do-bin made a square in the air. Seung-gyu, realizing that his son only knew that much, searched for a Go problem online and showed him the picture. It was a picture where the white stones were clearly winning.
“Look. Who’s winning in this one?”
As expected, Do-bin couldn’t answer.
“Stop Go. Quit it.”
“What about Yena?”
“Yena is Yena, and you are you.”
“Can’t I see Yena?”
“Park Do-bin.”
“……”
“Your mom is having a hard time taking you and Yena to the Go academy. You’re going to have another sibling soon, so you need to be more mature.”
An earthquake of about magnitude 8 occurred in Do-bin’s eyes.
“Stop going to the Go academy. Say goodbye to Yena properly today.”
Do-bin, his nostrils flaring with excitement, narrowed his eyes and asked Seung-gyu.
“Can Dad break up with Mom?”
“Why would Dad break up with Mom?”
“Then why are you only telling me to break up with Yena?”
“……”
“Why are you telling me to do something that Dad can’t do!”
Do-bin shouted. It was only yesterday that he had promised her, whom he liked, that he would go to the Go academy forever and always be by her side. Breaking a promise that should be etched in his heart for life in just one day was not the way of a man. \ The filming crew, having left the hotel in the early morning, quickly wrapped up their schedule in Australia and arrived at the airport. Jeong-o and the filming crew had different flights, so they had to part ways at the airport.
“Thank you all for your hard work. See you in Seoul.”
Ji-heon greeted the filming crew, looking at Jeong-o, who was standing at the end. Since leaving Ji-heon’s room early this morning, Jeong-o had not returned. She hadn’t even sent a separate text message. Last night, which had been filled with joy, had vanished, leaving behind only a memory like the aurora borealis. Seeing her expression, he had an uneasy feeling that they were back to square one. In any case, he couldn’t take the lead in something she was being extremely cautious about. Ji-heon also brushed past her and boarded his flight first. After parting ways with Ji-heon, Jeong-o hesitated. Early this morning, Jeong-o had left Ji-heon’s room without a word. She was ashamed of having snooped on the text messages he had exchanged with his mother, and she felt sorry that he was being so kind. She had left the room without a word, so he must have been upset. She felt like she should contact him, even if only briefly.
- I’m sorry for leaving earlier. Have a safe trip.
Jeong-o sent a short text message and let out a long sigh. Reality was daunting, but she couldn’t afford to sit around for too long. Now that she knew the truth, her direction was set. She would have to prepare to fight his mother. The manipulated phone call wasn’t the only thing that Ms. Jang Young-mi had fabricated to cover up the past. She was certain that there was something more.
‘I wish I could find even a small clue.’
She had to stay by his side relentlessly. She had to encourage him to constantly recall past memories and learn more about his mother. Jeong-o sent another text message.
- See you in Seoul. I’ll contact you.
* After a 14-hour journey, including the layover, Jeong-o arrived in Korea. Her body felt stiff, but the thought of seeing Yena filled her heart with vitality. After going through customs together, Chief Park Young-gwang said to Jeong-o.
“Assistant Manager Lee, you’ve really worked hard. I’ll give you a ride. Let’s go together.”
“No, it’s okay. I can take the airport bus. It drops me off near my house, so it’s convenient.”
Jeong-o added a little white lie, hoping that Chief Park Young-gwang, who had worked the hardest, would go home and rest quickly.
“Oh, really? I see. Then go home and get some rest. Let’s see each other the day after tomorrow!”
“Yes. Please drive carefully, Chief. You’ve worked hard.”
Jeong-o greeted Young-gwang and walked towards the bus stop. But then, a man approached her without a sound and snatched her suitcase away. It was Jeong Ji-heon. Jeong-o asked in surprise.
“Why are you here?”
“You said we’d meet.”
“I said we’d meet in Seoul. This is Incheon.”
He didn’t answer and strode ahead. Even while pulling her suitcase, he was walking much faster than Jeong-o. Jeong-o chased after him and reached out her arm.
“Give me the bag. I’ll carry it.”
“Just hurry up and come. Unless you want to be caught by someone.”
Jeong-o lowered her head, startled by his remark. Ji-heon, who had arrived at the airport first, waited for Jeong-o. He knew which flight she was returning on, so it was just a matter of timing. Fortunately, he was able to spot Jeong-o without being noticed by Chief Park Young-gwang. It was a relief that Jeong-o hadn't gotten a ride with Chief Park Young-gwang. Returning to Korea alone, she had many thoughts. Why did she touch my phone? Because I'm insecure? Because I'm not trustworthy? Because I seem too easy and frivolous? Did she want to check if I have many women, or if I'm still in contact with Chae Eun-bi? If that's the reason, then it's welcome. A little bit of obsession pleased him. He was also unusually obsessed with her. He reasoned that he was no different from her, whether it was him asking Seung-gyu to investigate her, or her secretly looking at his phone, and he calmed himself down. He was still frustrated because Lee Jung-o's true purpose and what she wanted from him were still unclear, but he couldn't give up on her. The answer was already there. Ji-heon loaded Jeong-o's luggage into the parked car and immediately started the car. As they moved towards Seoul, he said what he wanted without hesitation.
“Tell me everything you told Song Gi-hun.”
Sort out Song Gi-hun first.
“I don't like that Song Gi-hun knows more about Lee Jung-o than I do.”
Jeong-o just sat there with her mouth shut. She seemed to have a lot to say, but since she was sitting still, provocation was the only way.
“And, talking about past lovers and trying to provoke me with it is bad. That's why you didn't have a boyfriend.”
As expected, she glared at him. He felt an unspoken pressure of, 'Then what are you?' Ji-heon smoothly continued.
“I'm just that understanding of a man.”
She suddenly sighed. He couldn't tell if it meant she couldn't agree with his joke or if she had other worries. After a while, a small voice was heard.
“……Can't I talk about it?”
“…….”
“I still want to talk about it. I want to.”
He felt a little upset at her grumbling. She wants to talk about her ex-boyfriend? He had asked Seung-gyu to investigate, but he didn't really want to know about her ex-boyfriend. He just wanted to confirm if that ex-boyfriend was still bothering her. ……I am a little curious if he is better looking than me, but other than that, there was nothing else.
“I'm going to bother you every time you talk about it?”
“I still want to.”
She pouted her lips and grumbled like a whine. He couldn't tell if it was a flirtation or a high-level harassment. Her small voice sounded like it was tickling his skin, and his breath became a little heavy. Is she trying to make me lose my mind even more when I'm already falling for her? This woman is definitely not ordinary. After letting some time pass, she changed the subject and asked.
“What do you think your family will say if they find out about me? For example, your mother or father……”
This time, her voice was very cautious. He thought he could guess what she was worried about this time. Ji-heon spoke firmly on a topic he was confident in.
“I'm going to tell my mother.”
“……Why?”
“Because there's a chance Chae Eun-bi will tell her first. It's better for her to hear it from me than from Chae Eun-bi.”
“…….”
“I won't let anyone touch Lee Jung-o. You don't have to worry about that.”
“How can I believe that?”
He wanted to give her definite trust, but as soon as Ji-heon finished speaking, she retorted sullenly. He turned his head to look at her at the suddenly raised voice. Jeong-o immediately regretted thinking that she had been too obvious. He replied gently.
“If you can't believe it, you'll just have to watch.”
He meant he would show it through his actions. Nevertheless, Jeong-o couldn't feel at ease. She could trust him, but she could never trust his mother. She wanted to grab him and ask.
‘Is it your mother, or me?’
If your mother and I are on opposite sides of the world, where will you go? But for some reason, she felt like she would lose, so she couldn't bring herself to ask the question. If you want to hold my hand, you might have to turn your back on your mother, is that okay? After much deliberation, Jeong-o asked Ji-heon.
“Can't you not tell her about me? Your mother.”
“I told you, Chae Eun-bi might tell her first.”
“Then just stop Chae Eun-bi from talking too.”
“…….”
“Can you do it?”
“…….”
“Can't you?”
“I'll think about it.”
Ji-heon smiled, tilting one corner of his lips. He was a person who could make good use of the opportunity called a favor. He reached out his right hand and stroked her cheek. He tucked her hair behind her ear and touched her earlobe, and she tilted her head as if tickled. Unable to bear it, she grabbed his right hand, kissed the back of his hand, and carefully placed it on the center console. Squeak. Eventually, Ji-heon stopped the car on the side of the road. Jeong-o flinched at his imposing figure approaching after he casually released his seatbelt. The same passionate light as last night was filling his eyes.
“Ah, no.”
“Why is it okay for you, but not for me?”
“No. Only, only what I do is okay. Not you.”
Only me. Not you. It was her, not him, who said it. Words enough to provoke his temper. He was not a fool who would accept such a sly assertion. He lowered his head and tasted her lips. Only then did he feel like his fatigue was relieved.
